Development and Validation of a Stressor-Coping Style Scale for Students in a Public Medical School.

Background: The medical curriculum is one of the most stressful academic curricula worldwide. Studies indicate that great levels of stress, that encompass academics to personal life, may be connected to a number of worrying statistics for the mental health of Philippine medical students.

Objectives: To develop a validated stressor-coping style scale for students in a public medical school.

Microvascular decompression: a contemporary update.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the gold-standard surgical treatment for cranial nerve compression disorders, including trigeminal neuralgia (TN), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). This review synthesizes historical milestones, recent advances, and evolving techniques in MVD, with a primary focus on these conditions.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, Scopus, and ScienceDirect.

Initiating or Switching to Insulin Degludec/Insulin Aspart in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in the Philippines: Results from a Prospective, Non-interventional, Real-World Study.

Objective: Blood glucose levels of the majority of Filipino patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain uncontrolled. Insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) is a fixed-ratio co-formulation of the long-acting basal insulin degludec and the rapidacting prandial insulin aspart. The real-world ARISE (A Ryzodeg Initiation and Switch Effectiveness) study investigated clinical outcomes across six countries in people with T2D who initiated IDegAsp.

The current state of Spina Bifida in low- and middle-income countries: where does Africa stand?

Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect that results in abnormal development of the spine and central nervous system. Infants born with this condition face a range of physical disabilities and associated complications. Although the global burden has declined in recent decades due to folic acid fortification and prenatal screening, spina bifida remains a significant public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

The AOFOG recommendations on human papillomavirus vaccination in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cervical cancer remains a disease burden in Asia. The Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology envisages a need to produce a set of recommendations on the implementation of human papilloma virus vaccination program for both lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs), with an attempt to harmonize the practices yet allow flexibility to cater for different cultures, religions, needs and background of individual countries/cities. International guidelines and literature were sought, and recommendations were made in seven selected areas, including (i) the target groups for vaccination, (ii) the doses of vaccination including the use of single-dose vaccination, (iii) the types of vaccines, (iv) suggestions for special populations including those with previous HPV infection, human immunodeficiency virus carriers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer group, (v) inter-changeability and the need of revaccination/booster, (vi) novel technologies and vaccines, and (vii) public education.

Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG)'s efforts in the cervical cancer elimination program in the Asia-Pacific.

Cervical cancer poses a significant health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening and treatment remains limited. Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG)'s response, guided by the World Health Organization's global strategy, emphasizes three key targets: achieving high HPV vaccination coverage among girls, ensuring widespread screening with high-performance tests, and guaranteeing timely treatment for precancerous and cancerous lesions. AOFOG supports member countries through initiatives such as educational campaigns, guidelines development, and collaboration with local and international partners.

Indirect effectiveness of a novel SARS-COV-2 vaccine (SCB-2019) in unvaccinated household contacts in the Philippines: A cluster randomised analysis.

Background: Though observational evidence supports indirect effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, randomised experiments are lacking. To address this gap, the double-blinded, prospective follow-up of the household contacts (HHCs) of Philippine participants of the individually-randomised, placebo-controlled trial of the adjuvanted-subunit protein COVID-19 vaccine, SCB-2019, (EudraCT, 2020-004272-17; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04672395) was analyzed in a cluster-randomised fashion.

Variation in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: the INTERASPIRE study.

Background And Aims: INTERASPIRE is an international study of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, designed to measure if guideline standards for secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation are being achieved in a timely manner.

Methods: Between 2020 and 2023, adults hospitalized in the preceding 6-24 months with incident or recurrent CHD were sampled in 14 countries from all 6 World Health Organization regions and invited for a standardized interview and examination. Direct age and sex standardization was used for country-level prevalence estimation.

Perspectives on telemedicine across urban, rural and remote areas in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: This study explored attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control of participants across urban, rural and remote settings and examined intention-to-use telemedicine (defined in this study as remote patient-clinician consultations) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. 12 focus group discussions were conducted with 60 diverse telemedicine user and non-user participants across 3 study settings.

Coexisting Meningioma and Glioma in the Same Patient: A Case Report.

The simultaneous occurrence of two distinct intracranial neoplasms within a single patient presents a unique and exceedingly rare clinical scenario. Such cases pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, complicating clinical decision-making and treatment planning. Understanding the intricacies of these cases is crucial for improving patient outcomes and advancing clinical knowledge.

Interrelationship of Sarcopenia and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review of Potential Mechanisms and Management.

Sarcopenia refers to an age-related reduction of lean body mass. It showed a reciprocal relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Thus, it is imperative to explore pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular diseases, along with the clinical assessment, and associated management.

Modifiable work stress factors and psychological health risk among nurses working within 13 countries.

Introduction: Nurses are identified as having higher work stress and poor mental health risk among health care workforce globally. It remains unclear which modifiable stress factors pose the greatest risk for poor psychological health among nursing workforce and needed to inform targeted practice and policy change. To determine which occupation-related or personal stress factors precipitate higher risk for burnout, depression, anxiety, job satisfaction or intention to leave one's position among nurses globally.

Age-Related Variations in Patterns of Patent Foramen Ovale-Stroke versus Other Cryptogenic Stroke.

Introduction: Patent foramen ovale (PFO)-stroke, a form of cryptogenic stroke, has certain identifying clinical and imaging features. However, data describing this stroke type remain inconsistent. This study examined the potential variations in PFO-stroke features, depending on age.

Non-traumatic Spinal Subdural Hemorrhage Associated With Rivaroxaban Use.

Spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) is a rare medical emergency that can cause permanent neurological deficits. The disease is characterized by sudden onset back pain, sensorimotor changes, and bladder and autonomic dysfunction. This is often associated with the use of anticoagulants, blood dyscrasias, and recent spinal procedures.

The Role of Neurotoxins and Fillers in Affirmative Care in Gender Nonconforming Filipino Patients.

Objective: Gender nonconformity refers to individuals whose gender identity, roles, or expressions do not adhere to societal standards and norms. Affirmative care is an approach to healthcare delivery in which organizations, programs, and providers recognize, validate, and support the identity stated or expressed by the individuals served. This study examined the effects of nonsurgical interventions performed by dermatologists, specifically botulinum toxins (BoNTA) and dermal filler injections, on the physical and mental health of Filipino gender nonconforming individuals.

Predictors and Prevalence of Alcohol and Cannabis Co-use Among Filipino Adolescents: Evidence From a School-based Student Health Survey.

Objectives: This study explored the prevalence and predictors of alcohol and cannabis co-use among 9263 Filipino adolescents, using data from the 2019 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the GSHS, targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years and excluding cases with incomplete data on alcohol and cannabis use. Our analysis employed the bivariate chi-square test of independence and multivariable logistic regression using Stata version 18 to identify significant predictors of co-use, with a p-value threshold set at 0.

The mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between UPPS-P impulsivity traits and gaming disorder among Asia-Pacific young adults.

Background: Little evidence is available to verify the mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between gaming disorder and various impulsivity traits. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between the five UPPS-P impulsivity traits and the risk of gaming disorder among young adults.

Methods: It was an inter-regional cross-sectional study using online survey in Australia, Japan, The Philippines and China.

Facing the digital frontier: exploring user acceptance of electronic health records in an urban, rural and remote setting in the Philippines.

Objectives: A thorough understanding of user needs and behavioural intent-to-use underpins the development of a responsive health information system. This study aimed to examine health workers' intent-to-use an electronic health record (EHR) system in an urban, rural and remote setting in the Philippines.

Methods: Following the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework, user acceptance and the factors influencing intent-to-use the EHR were examined through a self-administered questionnaire.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring profiles in Asia.

High blood pressure (BP) remains a major health problem globally, with a proportion of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) increasing worldwide including in Asia region. Cardiovascular (CV), cerebral and kidney diseases related to hypertension were reported to be closely associated with morning surge and nocturnal hypertension-a subset of BP variability-which can be detected by out-of-office BP measurement. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and Home BP monitoring (HBPM) have been recommended by major guidelines to be used in the evaluation of BP variability and outcomes' prediction of hypertension patients.

Promoting equitable and patient-centred care: an analysis of patient satisfaction in urban, rural and remote primary care sites in the Philippines.

Objectives: This study measured changes in patient satisfaction levels before and after the introduction of primary care system strengthening interventions in urban, rural, and remote sites in the Philippines.

Methods: A previously validated 16-item questionnaire was distributed to 200 patients per site before implementation of interventions and to a different set of 200 patients 1 year after implementation. We compared the percentage change in highly satisfied patients per site before and after implementing interventions using a two-proportion Z-test.